High-Dose Hydrogen Therapy May Weaken Immune System in Healthy Adults
- Authors
- Ji-Bing Chen, Xiao-Feng Kong, Feng Mu
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.4103/2045-9912.310054
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Negative
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Immune System Dysfunction
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Breathing in high amounts of hydrogen gas can decrease certain immune cells in healthy people.
Key Finding
Two weeks of high-flow hydrogen inhalation (2-4 hours daily) led to statistically significant decreases in multiple types of immune cells in healthy middle-aged adults, suggesting an inhibitory effect on immune function.
Summary
Researchers studied whether breathing high-flow hydrogen gas affects immune function in healthy middle-aged adults. Twenty participants inhaled hydrogen for 2 to 4 hours daily for 2 weeks. After the study period, several types of immune cells (including helper T cells, natural killer cells, and others) decreased in number compared to before the hydrogen inhalation, suggesting that high-flow hydrogen may reduce immune function.
Practical Takeaway
This small study in healthy adults suggests that very high flow rates of hydrogen gas over extended periods may suppress immune function, which differs from the general safety profile reported in other hydrogen research. However, this is a single, small study with limited details, so more research is needed to understand whether these effects occur at lower doses or in people with health conditions, and whether they have practical health consequences.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen inhalation therapy has been proven to be safe and effective in disease treatment in multiple clinical reports, but the gas flow rates used in different studies vary greatly. Since there is no upper limit for the safe concentration of hydrogen, this study tested the effects of high-flow…